Container and closure and dispensing means therefor



June s, 1948. T R NE 2,443,086

CONTAINER AND CLOSURE AND DISPENSING MEANS THEREFOR Filed May 6, 1945 INVENTORe'. Wzhred Jluz'enne.

BY 5%,, pwammm w ATTYS.

Patented June 8, 1948 UNITED STATES rare-NT orsrcr:

'10 Claims.

-I iMy present invention is useful in the handling of :fluids generally, and in preventing 'chemicallor bacteriological contamination in that connection,

-:-as fcr example :in conserving and dispensing sterile :fiui'ds for medicaL surgicaI and-other pur- "poses, and as required for laboratories, hospitals and various other fieldsof use. More particularly the invention aims to :provide improved closureequipped fiuid containers having practical and c'onven'ien't hermetic closure and sealing means,

whereby sterile fluids may be safely s'tore'd and lreadily dispensed, with minimum danger of contamin'ation.

In the drawings illustrating one embodiment "of the invention byway of example Eig. lshowsin elevation the inleteoutl et por- "ztion of a container with the associated closure :ine'ans, as when' closed and sealed;

Fig. la is a small-scaleelevation-of .a container andclosuroassembly'like that of Fig. l;

Fig, 2 Ba similar view as Fig. l, With the con- "tain'er open;

.Fig. 3 illustrates the non-contaminating or "sterile pouring of the container content .iEigs. 4 and 5 (are respectively a top' or out-er and a bottom or inner plan of the closure cap separately;

Fig.6 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view on the l'ine'fi-t of Fig. '5'; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are longitudinal sectional views of the container and bushing, in the -open or pouring condition in Fig. 7 and in the capped and sealed condition in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, a typical container as comprised in the -rl'on'iloiriationof the invention is indicated generally 21; Fig. la and "Figs. 1 to 3, 7 and 8. It includes a neck H terminating in a mouth '12 having at its rim an annular protuberance or bead E3. I 'he container neck structure preferably is such as in U. S. patentto Walter 22285936, havin'ghzhelinner wall adjacent'the mouthdownwardlydivergent as at M relative to the outer wall, which maybe vertical or slightly inclined in one "or' the maposite direction. The container as illustrated-accordingly is adapted for use with stopper and venting means as in the patent mentioned and in the =rel'ated Patent 2,116,132, as well as -in the n ovel combination herein disclosed. The presendinventime however is not limited to the particular containers or flasks of'th'e-pa'tents noted.

While the container body may be variously shaped and proportioned, it preferably is of an ellipsoid shape, as an aid to avoidance of the -'e'fiect of water hammer'at 'the' s'o called lviurgat-r'oyd belt or 'he'el'of the container or bottle. It l-maytberof:anymreferremmaterial capable of withstanding :sterilizing temperatures and of a strength. to sustain :su'bstantial gpressures, both :nositive and negative, :that generall employed "being a heat-resistant tglass, :such as that known commerciall'y under :the trade mark Pyrex. "Where several sizes of rcontainers are desirable, sasifor .ex'amplefiflo, 1000, 2000'and 3000 1111 these :may be uniformly dimensioned as .to the mouth andndjacent neck portion, for interchangeable fitting with aa zgiven -siz'e not the closure means to he described. The -sealing closures however may he :made in various sizes and proportions as appropriate for any -.particular siz and 1 design of container of the'rest-ricted outlet, bottle, flask or liar type in'general.

-'I he sealing closure means comprises two main =elements proportioned-and arranged for cooperation with-each other :and with thermouthof the container in the novel manner of the invention. These elements are a-sea1ing sleeve .or bushing indicated generally at +20, and a cover or cap zdesignatedzgenerally at -40.

'Thebushing '20 is an olongatedisleeve-or collarlike open tubular element integrally molded of rubber, rubber compositionorother resilient material of a nontoxic nature and preferably suf- .ficiently -heat-resistant to retain its resiliency under repeated sterilizing treatment. internally the bushing =is .iormed :and proportioned to smround andi'gripthe 'containermouth, while externally it is adaptedior ,pluralsealing engagement with the cap, in the installed position .of the latter, and. ior noncontaminating orsterile =pourin'g'ofthe contents uponremoval of the cap.

Noting particularly Figs. 2, 7 and J8, the lower portion of the bushing --comprises a cylindrical skirt 2 I .of an inner diameter to ,pass readily over 40 the'bead l3at the containermouth. The bottom edge of the skirt desirably is reinforced against tearing, as at22,-thellower .portion of the skirt afi'ording a hand 'hold during manipulation 'of :the closure means as .laterpointed out. At an mtermediatejp'orti-on, above the skirt, the bushing is'o'f reduced inside diameter, the inner wall converging upwardly, with'aigradual taper, as at "23 toaline-onnarrow zone 24 of minimum diam- *eter. 'This bevel form'ation 23, 24, at which the nus'nin wall is thereby correspondingly thickened, is adapted to grip the container :ne'ck imm-edia'tel below the bead ts, having for :this punpose Ea .rminimum diameter, in the free state, ipreierably :somewlfrat Floss than the outer :diametercof thelneck. .Ais aniaidzinthis connection the outer wall of the container neck may have a slight taper down and inwardly but desirably less than that of the inner wall I 4.

Above the up-tapering zone 23, 24 the interior of the bushin is radially enlarged by an annular channel 25 of a sectional contour conformant to that of the container bead I3 and adapted to receive andfit snugly about the latter, preferably under some tension when installed, The upper wall of the channel 25 is continued inwardly to provide a substantially horizontal or slightly dished top flange 26, extending across and somewhat inwardly beyond the wall of the container mouth, furnishing a definite down-stop for the bushing relative to the container neck.

The bushing terminates at its upper end in an up-fiaring flexible Wall member or lip 28, extending reversely out from the inner margin of the top flange 26. This lip is made more resilient than the adjacent part of the generally resilient bushing, being relatively thin, particularly in the region of its hinged union 29 with the top flange 26. The structure and arrangement is such that in the free condition, Figs. 2 and 7, the lip 28 automatically assumes a raised or longitudinally projecting position substantially as illustrated, the outer margin standing distinctly spaced from the supporting top flange 26 of the bushing, with the lip 28 as a whole at a sharply defined acute angle to the flange. This is the normal open or pouring condition of the bushing lip 28; see also Fig. 3. It contrasts with the closed and sealed position, Figs. 1 and 8, in which the lip is depressed and radially expanded, in flatwise abutting contact with the top flange 26.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 7, the body of the bushing 28, between the pendent skirt 2| and the projective lip 28 has an outer peripheral wall 38 of downwardly increasing diameter. This down-flared portion extends from the top flange 26 down to a level spaced below the bead-enclosing channel 25, and has at its lower margin, of maximum outer diameter, a pronounced annular projection or peripheral rib 3|, shown as of relatively small cross-section. In transverse line with the bottom of this rib 3| the wall portion 38 is abruptly stepped inward as at 32 to the diameter of the skirt 2|, meeting the latter or an upward prolongation of its outer peripheral surface perpendicularly or substantially so.

The described down-flared bushing portion defined externally by the inclined wall 30, the rib 3| and the step 32 constitutes in effect a compression zone for coaction with the cap element 40 to be described, this zone including the reduced and tapered inner wall formations 23, 24, the channel 25 and the top flange 26, together with the relatively thick mass of resilient material bounded by them. The inclined outer wall 30 of this zone merges into the top flange 26 in a rounded corner or shoulder formation 33, opposite and slightly above the container mouth and bead I3. As will be apparent from the further description and in connection with the drawing, the upper portion of the bushing including the top lip 28 coacts with the closure cap 40 to provide an inner, upper or secondary seal, while the rib 3| at an intermediate level of the bushing and cap affords an outer, lower or primary seal, see particularly Fig. 8. The terms primary and secondary are for identification and imply no limitation as to the relative importance of the individual sealing actions in jointly contributing to the total insured sealing effect or substantially to its bottom edge.

nor as to the relative times of effective sealing engagement thereby.

From the foregoing it is evident that a bushing 28 is readily and removably installed at the container mouth by passing the bushing skirt 2| down over the bead I3 and onto the neck H, and entering the bead into the channel 25. This latter requires but slight relative longitudinal pressure on the parts, the resilient bushing springing readily into the seated position of Figs. 2 and 7. Installation is facilitated by the gradual taper of the inner wall portion 23 of the bushing, in guiding cooperation with the container bead I3. The bushing thus installed is ready for sealing coaction with the other closure element, the cap 40 now to be described.

This cap or cover 48 is an inverted cup-like member having an imperforate top wall 4| and a circumferentially continuous down-flaring side wall 42. Noting particularly Figs. 4 to 6 and 8, the cap is shaped and proportioned to fit freely over an installed bushing 20, as shown dotted in Fig. '7, and to be thrust down into closed and hermetically sealed relation to it, as in Fig. 8, in a plural sealing manner as above referred to.

Inside the cap 40 the top and side walls 4| and 42 have a curved juncture as at 43, Fig. 6, generally conformant to the arcuate shoulder 33 of the bushing. The diameter of the cap top wall at its inner face is made predeterminedly less than that of the bushing shoulder 33, in the installed but otherwise free condition of the latter, Fig. 7. Also, the inner face of the cap side wall 42 is formed with a selected degree of flare, calculated as equal or somewhat greater than that of the bushing outer wall 30, so that as the cap is, depressed to closed and sealing position (Fig. 8) a portion of increasingly smaller diameter comes opposite and compressively engages the bushing shoulder 33 and the rib 3|. This action is indicated by, the inclined broken line 0 at the left in Fig. 7, paralleling the inner wall of the cap. Consequently, as the cap is moved down to the Fig. 8 position the bushing is placed in lateral compression and a plural sealing action obtained, as there illustrated.

The cap side wall 42 has a height at least equalling and preferably greater than the vertical extent of the bushing from the edge of the lip 28 to the rib and shoulder 3|, 32, in the open Fig. 7 position, and the flare of the cap is continued to Thus the open end of the cap is of a size for easily setting the cap in place over the bushing, where it will rest loosely, until the container is to be sealed,

' the bushing lip 28 standing elevated, and the cap side wall extending down sufficiently, as indicated in dotted line in Fig. 7, to prevent displacement of the cap under ordinary circumstances. In addition to this initial guiding and retaining function for the lower portion of the cap side wall, the latter makes possible the seal-breaking feature to be described, as well as providing for setting the sterilized cap on a flat surface, such as a shelf or table, without contaminating contact at its inner closed portion.

It will be understood that in the preparation of sterile fluids in containers such as here concerned the filled container (usually a number of them at a time) is subjected to sterilizing heat in an autoclave or other chamber. At such time the cap40 may be entirely removed but preferably is set loosely in place as above described with reference to the dotted line showing in Fig. 7. Stream or other expanding gases can then escape past the lip-Z8, between it and the cap. After a proper sterilizing period and a following adequate initial cooling the container generally should be closed and sealed, unless the content is to be used immediately."

This is accomplished, with the closure means of the invention, by simply depressing the cap to the closed position of Fig. 8, which may be done by a slight pressure with the palm of the hand. Then in the course of further cooling a negative pres.- sure develops within the container. This serves to increase the strong plural sealing action, as will be apparent from the further description.

From a comparison of Figs. 7 and 8, it will be seen that as the cap is pushed down from the dotted Fig. 7 position the flared bushing lip 28 swings down, flatwis-e, about its connected edge 29 as a hinge. As the lip thus pivots down from 'a raised to a horizontal position paralleling the top flange 26 its outer edge describes an arc, about the hinge 29 as a center, as indicated by the curved dotted line it at the upper left in Fig. 7. The extent of lateral projection of the lip 28 relative to the bushing shoulder 33 is thus increased, by an amount substantially as indicated by the broken parallel vertical lines and associated arrow, referring still to the upper left in Fig.7. Hence the lip is in effect thrust out into gripping relation with the cap at the region of the juncture 43 between the cap top and side walls 4!, 42. This sealing action adjacent the top of the cap, sometimes herein referred to as a secondary seal, is augmented by the lateral and downward compressive action of the cap upon the bushing, as indicated by the small arrows at the left in Fig. 8. The compressive action in efiect causes an inflow of the resilient bushing material at and adjacent the shoulder 33, which in turn urges the periphery of the lip 28 outward and effectively squeezes it into the region between the bushing shoulder 33 and the cap side and top wall juncture 13. I

The down closing movement of the cap 40, continuously bringing a smaller-diameter portion laterally opposite any given level of the bushing 20, exerts a correspondingly increasing compressive inthrust upon the bushing, at all levels of the latter and particularly at the shoulder 33 and in the region of the bushing rib 3!. Consequently said rib 3| is deflected and compressed down and inwardly toward and into the shoulder space 32, substantially as indicated in Fig. 8. Thus there is efiected simultaneously with the described upper, inner or secondary seal at the top of the cap a lower, outer or primary seal at an intern'lediate lower cap portion, in the region of the rib and shoulder formation 3 I 32.

The described plural sealing action is such that under the cooling as above mentioned very substantial negative pressures may be developed, up to as much as 29 inches of vacuum. This negative pressure further increases and strengthens the sealing action at all interengaged faces of the cap and bushing, and especially at the flattened lip 28, in the general manner of a so-called suction cup. This negative pressure condition may be availed of to afiord a test and signal of the properly sealed condition of the container, through the medium of the characteristic waterhammer effect produced by the fluid contents in the presence of a partial vacuum. Thus if the container is lightly struck or disturbed a dis-tinctive ringing, knock or hammer sound is given off, assuring that the container and its contents are properly sealed and uncontaminated. Ab-

' the property of establishing an intimate hermetic seal with the rubber or rubber-like material of the bushing 20. Various materials have been found unsuited in this latter respect. For example it is difficult or unsatisfactory to fabricate the cap from stainless steel and various other non-corrosive metals in a manner to present a sufficiently uniform surface texture, due to the practically unavoidable presence of tool marks. Glass of various composition has generally proved unsatisfactory, apparently because of the relatively hard and polished character of the surface, which is not susceptible to good sealing at the pressures here concerned. One material found especially satisfactory in actual use is a plastic identified commercially at Durez 13-75. This thermo-setting synthetic resinous material meets the sterilizing temperature requirements and is adapted fiorcompression-molding, whereby the caps are afforded smooth faces for contact with the bushings, free of irregularities such as tool marks, and having in the surface texture a softness and skin-like feel uniquely contributing to the formation of the desired intimate seal with the rubber or rubber-like composition of the bushing.

As already'noted, the side wall d2 of the cap 48 is of a length or height to extend'down well below the deflected rib SI of the bushing in the sealed condition, Fig. 8. At its lower edge the cap as shown has a basal rim 45- of increased outer diameter and in offset or stepped relation to the lower terminal portion of the side wall 42 proper. Thus an annular space is provided within the base flange 45, continuously around and below the side Wall, as at 46.

In accordance with the invention this space 45 is availed; of for the purpose of readily breaking the seal, to facilitate opening the closure. Referring to Figs. 5 and 8 and particularly Fig. 6, at any selected point around the base rim 45 the adjacent lower portion of the cap side wall 42 is formed with a vertical slot or groove as at 41, defining a negative-pressure vent. This groove, which is open at least at the inner face of the cap wall, leads up from and out .of the described annular space 46. While in some instances this vent formation 4? may be otherwise formed preferably it is closed laterally of the cap by a raised or laterally offset covering wall portion 48, in effect an upward extension of the base rim 45, or in the nature of a lateral boss at the outsid of the cap wall and internally troughed to form a passage leading up from the bottom annular recess 46.

The described vent 4! extends up to or slightly below the rib 3|, in the depressed Fig. 8 position of the latter. Hence if the sealed cap is tilted with reference to the bushing and container neck, with the vent 4'! uppermost, as shown dotted in Fig. 8, the upper end of the vent will be moved past and away from the rib 3|. With the lower or primary seal thus interrupted, air atatmospheric pressure can enter between the bushing and the cap, further tilting of the cap then immediately breaking the entire seal including the inner or secondary seal at the upper portion of the cap. In Fig. 8 the dotted lines show the cap tilted substantially beyond the seal-breaking relation. 'Ilo aid in quickly releasing the cap the top wall may carry an index 49 in radial line with the vent location; Fig. 4. As best apparent in Fig. 8, the laterally projective and spaced relation of the base rim 45 and adjacent lower portion of the cap to the bushing skirt 2| together with the downward extension of the bushing beyond the cap facilitates the tilting release of the cap. This may be efiected by grasping the cap in any convenient fashion and pushing in on the rim or side wall at a position diametrically opposite the vent 41, desirably with a simultaneous twisting motion, the cap then fulcruming about the adjacent portion of the bushing shoulder 33 and lifting the vent to releasing position, the down projecting portion of the bushing skirt 2| affording a hand hold thereon for retaining the bushing while twisting and lifting the cap relative to it. The cap desirably has a series of small external projections, nubbins or the like 45a distributed about the base rim 45, preferably uniformly, to aid in manually gripping and turning the cap, as helpful in releasing it, and serving also to reinforce the cap rim.

Numerous advantages of the closure means of the invention have been indicated in connection with the foregoing description. Other advantages include that of safely providing for removal of any desired portion of the container content and for reclosing of the container with assurance that the unused content has not been contactively contaminated. In pouring the liquid, noting particularly Fig. 3, it contacts only the inner face of the then elevated pour lip 28. This lip is automatically guarded, in removal of the cap, by the dependent wall of the cap itself. No portion of the bushing having contact with the container content need be touched by the users hand in opening the container and dispensing the content, and the bushing skirt may safely be grasped in manipulating the closure means. In any event the liquid-directing surface of the pouring lip cannot come in contact with an external object except by deliberate effort. In various uses, the substantially drip-proof character of the resilient pouring lip is of considerable importance.

It has been pointed out that by reason of the depth of the cap and the offset basal flange, the cap may be temporarily placed on any convenient flat surface, without contaminating the inner faces of the side or top walls. Thus, after pouring off any part of the total content the container may readily be recapped and sealed in dust-tight condition as to the remnant content. It will be understood that the container and both main elements of the closure means, namely the bushing and the cap, are reusable. They may be repeatedly subjected to sterilizing heat and steam over an extended life period, indefinitely as to container and cap, and limited as to the bushing only by the capacity of its particular rubber-like composition to retain adequate resilience after frequent sterilizin treatment.

The container or flask and closure means of the invention are uniquely adapted for use in making up, transporting and storing sterile or other fluids, as to which chemical or bacteriological contamination are to be avoided, in dispensing all or part of a container content without contaminating either the fluid poured or the residual fluid in the container, and in rescaling and saving such residuum. The closure as disclosed is thus especially suited to such purposes as blood banking, and in the handling of parenteral, intravenous and other fluids as to which sterility or freedom from contactive contamination are essential. It replaces various more or less make-shift expedients such as cotton or gauze stoppers, and cloth or paper covers held by tape, string, wiring and the like.

For convenience the container and closure means have been described herein mainly with reference to an upright position, but it will be evident in this connection that all terms such as upper." lower, top, bottom, vertical, horizontal" are used to identify the parts and their relation and have no special limiting significance, whether as to the normal or use position of the container, the location or direction of the container inletoutlet, or otherwise.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof illustrated and described herein, and I set forth its scope in my following claims.

I claim:

1. Fluid storing and dispensing means comprising, in combination: a container having an openmouth neck with'a protuberant rim; a resilient bushing including an intermediate compression band internally formed to enclose and grip the container neck and rim, the band having an outer Wall downwardly increasing in diameter to a peripheral rib, a skirt pendent below the compression band, and an up-flaring resilient pouring lip normally projecting above the compression band; and a rigid cap having a down-flaring circumferential wall and a closed top wall; the cap and bushing being conformantly shaped and relatively proportioned for hermetic sealing interengagement wherein the pouring lip is flattened and expanded to grip the cap to afi'ord a seal in cooperation with the compression band of the bushing and wherein the peripheral rib is deflected and compressed into sealing relation to a lower level of the cap.

2. A dispensing container and closure for fluids comprising, in combination: a container having a neck with a beaded mouth, the container constructed to Withstand substantial internal pressure; a resilient bushing snugly fitted about the container neck and mouth, the bushing having a body portion including a top flange seating over the container mouth, an annular channel receiving the mouth bead, outwardly divergent inner and outer walls, a peripheral rib on the outer wall below said annular channel, the bushing further having a skirt pendent below the body portion, and an out-flaring resilient pouring lip hinged at the inner edge of the bushing top flange and projecting reversely at an angle thereto when free; and a rigid inverted cap adapted for plural laterally compressive sealing engagement with the bushing by down movement over it.

3. Closure means for fluid containers, adapted to protect against chemical and bacteriological contamination, said means comprising, in combination, a resilient bushing removably engageable in gripping relation around a container neck and mouth, the bushing having upper and lower external circumferentially continuous protuberant elements, the upper element of less outer diameter than the lower element, a rigid down-flaring open-bottom cap having a circumferential wall inclined and proportioned for inward compressive engagement with said protuberant elements by down movement of the cap over and relative to the bushing, and said cap having a laterally offset basal rim and a pressure-release vent on the circumferential wall, the vent leading upwardly from the interior of the rim.

4. A closure for the neck mouths of fluid containers, comprising a resilient bushing removably engageable in gripping relation about a container neck and mouth, the bushing having upper and intermediate external circumferentiall continuous protuberant elements, the upper element normally of less outer diameter than the intermediate element, a rigid cap having a closed top wall and a, pendant circumferential wall the inner face of which flares downward and is diametrally proportioned for inward compressive sealing engagement with the intermediate protuberant bushing element upon down thrusting of the cap over the bushing thereby to afford a primary seal, the cap top wall and an upper portion of the circumferential wall being simultaneously engageable with the upper portion of the bushing including the upper protuberant element thereof to afford a secondary seal, and said bushing having a lower hand-hold portion extending below and in spaced relation to the cap in the installed position of the closure.

5. In a container closure, a bushing for a container mouth and neck, said bushing unitarily formed of resilient material and comprising a generally cylindrical tubular element including intermediate, skirt, and lip portions, the intermediate portion having a centrally open horizontal top flange, an inwardly open annular channel enlargement below the flange, and down-flaring inner and outer circumferential walls, the lip portion normally projecting reversely out from the inner edge of the top flange for pouring across it and being hinged to the top flange for depressing into fiatwise contact therewith for cap-sealing purposes.

6. For use in closing and sealing containers of the mouth and neck type and in non-contaminatively dispensing fluids therefrom, a tubular unitary bushing of resilient composition, the bushing comprising a skirt dimensioned to pass freely down over the container mouth and neck, an annular compressive body above the skirt including an up-tapering inner wall to grip the container neck, a generally similarly inclined outer wall having a plurality of vertically spaced zones for lateral compressive engagement by a frustumshaped cap, an inwardly open horizontal annular channel including upper and lower walls to enclose the rim of the container mouth, the upper wall of the channel extended horizontally inward as a flange having a relatively large central opening, and an up-flaring resilient pouring and sealing lip hinged about the central opening of said flange and projecting reversely outward and standing normally at a sharply-defined angle to the flange.

7. In closure means for fluid containers, to protect against contactive contamination of the content, an integral resilient annular bushing to surround a container mouth, the bushing including a centrally open horizontal annular top flange,

a peripheral portion extending generally perpendicularly down from the outer margin of the flange and of increasing outer diameter downwardly, and an upwardly flaring circumferentially continuous pouring lip hinged at the inner margin of said flange.

8. Non-contaminating closure and pouring means for fluid containers, comprising, in combination: a resilient annular bushing to surround a container mouth, including a centrally open horizontal annular top flange, a peripheral wall depending at the outer margin of the flange and downwardly increasing in outer diameter, and an inverted conical pouring lip hinged at the inner margin of the flange; and a rigid open-bottom sealing cap having a. closed top wall to seat on and depress the pouring lip, a circumferential side wall for compressive sealing engagement with the peripheral wall of the bushing, and basal supporting and manipulating means on the side wall, below the peripheral bushing wall in the sealing position of the bushing and cap.

9. A quick-detachable sealing closure cap for reception on a resilient bushing at the neck mouth of a container for sterile fluid, said cap comprising a rigid one-piece open-bottom member having a generally planar closed top wall and an integrally pendant annular side wall of predeterminedly downwardly increasing inner diameter whereby vertically spaced portions of the cap on down thrusting over a container bushing will have primary and secondary inward compressive sealing engagement with such bushing, the side wall of the cap terminating in a laterally outwardly stepped basal rim enclosing an annular bottom space of a diameter larger than the cap wall above it, a vent formation of limited circumferential extent communicating between the annular space and the cap interior, the basal rim adapted to position the cap out of interior contact with a supporting surface and presenting external manual gripping and reinforcing means at the base of the cap.

10. A sealing closure cap according to claim 9 in which the cap is integrally molded of a nonfrangible synthetic composition resistant to sterilizing temperatures.

WILFRED J. TURE-NNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 66,212 Burnet July 2, 1867 255,005 Murphin Mar. 14, 1882 373,849 Pomeroy Nov. 29, 1887 416,355 Chalk Dec. 9, 1889 509,223 Howell Nov. 21, 1893 651,312 Lorenz June 5, 1900 920,791 Tonini May 4, 1909 1,384,129 Grant July 12, 1921 1,865,023 Leavy June 28, 1932 2,228,936 Walter Jan. 14, 1941 2,294,260 Weaton et al Aug. 25, 1942 2,380,395 Berthold July 31, 1945 

